Body-protector.



PATENTED NOV. 24, 1903.

J. GAMBLE.

BODY PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4. 1903.

2 SHBETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

WITNESSES:

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PATENTED NOV. 24, 1903.

J. GAMBLE. BODY PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

N0 MODEL.

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mums wan-ms co, vucrouwo UNITED STATES Patented November 24,

PATENT amen,

JOHN GAMBLE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE A. REACH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

BODY-PROTECTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 745,007, dated November 24, 1903.

Application filed August 4, 19Q3.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN GAMBLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of 5 Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Body-Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to body-protectors for use in playing baseball and similar games,

and has particular reference to the provision of pads or shields for the protection of the shoulders of the wearer of the body-protector.

The invention consists in the novel combination of the several parts of the device, as

I 5 hereinafter described, illustrated in the drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front view of a body-protector having shoulder pads or shields attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a sectional View of one of the shoulder-protecting pads or shields. Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views of modified forms of the shoulder-protecting pad orshield. Fig. 5 is a rear view of a body-pro- 2 5 tector, showing means for giving the same the proper curve to fit the body; and Fig. 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view thereof.

Referring to the several views, the letterA indicates the body-protector, which is preferably of the pneumatic type and is provided with suitable inflatable chambers a and a valve a therefor.

a is a suitable neck-strap, and a suitable straps or other means for binding the pro- 3 5 tector to the body of the wearer.

The body-protector A is constructed, preferably, with a vertical central contracted portion or web I), as shown in Fig. 6, and is provided on its inner side with the stays or strips Z), secured thereto in any suitable manner across the depression caused by the web formation, whereby said body-protector will have a curved form in cross-section when ready for use. This feature of the invention is a particularly valuable one when the body portion is a pneumatic instead of a padded construction.

The letter 0 indicates a shoulder-protecting pad or shield, which is preferably a curved 5o pneumatic pad, consisting of a number of communicating chambers or compartments 0 Serial No; 168,203. (No model.)

and is provided with a suitable valve 0 This protector is adapted to fit over the shoulder close to the neck and designed to protect the wearer when leaning forward from a blow 5 or impact of a ball, being especially useful for this purpose in the case of both catcher and umpire, who during the progress of a game are compelled to lean forward in order to properly perform their several duties.

The shoulder-protecting pads or shields are designed to be secured either detachably or permanently to the body-protector, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. If detachably secured, the well-known glove-fastener or other suitable means may be employed for the purpose. If permanently secured, they may be stitched, cemented, riveted, or otherwise, as may be deemed desirable. They may, however, if desired, be made integral with the body-protector and in the pneumatic type connected with the inflatable chambers or compartments of the said body-protector, as is shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The general forms of shoulder-protecting pad shown in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings are preferred, for the reason that by their constructions every portion of the shoulder is protected from the impact of a blow. The form shown in Fig. 3, while answering all practical purposes, does not afford perfect protection at every point, for the reason that the chambers or compartments are rather flat and are connected by a thin web, which is neither padded nor inflated. This is a very desirable form of pad, however, as it is very light and flexible. It is desirable that the shoulder pad or shield should set 011 and over the shoulder, and in order to accomplish this it is necessary that it be sufficiently o curved to conformto the part to be protected. This result is attained by a construction such as is shown, Fig. 2, or by means of a strip 0 of any suitable material, attached to the chambers, as shown in Fig. 4. While these .95 shoulderprotectors are shown as of the pneumatic type, it is evident that they may be constructed of padded material.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pat- Ioo ent of the United States, is-

1. A body-protector for ball-players pro- I for ball-players, of a pair of detachable pneumatic shoulder-protecting pads or shields, said pads being adapted to fit over the shoulders and extend from the neck outwardly over the shoulder-joints.

4. A body-protector for ball-players having a vertical central contracted portion or web, and suitable stays secured to the sections at each side of said web, whereby said bodyprotector is given a curved form in crosssection.

5. The combination with a body-protector for ball-players, having a vertical central contracted portion or web, and suitable stays secured to the sections at each side of said web, whereby said protector is given acurved form in cross-section, of shoulder-protecting pads or shields attached to said body-protector and adapted to fit over and upon the shoulders of the wearer.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN GAMBLE.

Witnesses:

THOS. D. MowLns, SAML. H. KIRKPATRICK. 

